Our army follows Machiavelli, who basically said, a ruler, if given the choice, between fear and love of their nation, should always make them fearful. The love of army is gone, but fear still remains… the day fear is gone, Pakistan will change forever
The primary role of the military should be to protect national borders, maintain internal security, and ensure the country’s defense readiness. Traditionally, militaries worldwide focus on safeguarding sovereignty and defending against external threats. In Pakistan, however, military involvement has extended beyond defense to various sectors typically reserved for civilian oversight, creating a unique power dynamic.
For instance, the military's presence in economic areas such as real estate (e.g., Defence Housing Authority), energy, manufacturing, banking, and agriculture overshadow civilian institutions and private businesses. Such involvement in commercial enterprises raises concerns about accountability, as these ventures often enjoy privileges like tax exemptions and land access that aren’t available to civilian companies.
Moreover, sectors like education, healthcare, and media—where the military has established institutions—are fundamentally civil sectors. When military institutions operate here, it affects public perception and skew resources toward projects not fully accountable to elected officials or subject to public scrutiny. While welfare initiatives for ex-servicemen are valuable, a clear boundary between defense duties and commercial ventures will ensure the military remains focused on its core responsibilities and allow civilian sectors to thrive independently under democratic oversight.